By Erharuyi A. Joe
The Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency (EDPHCDA) under the auspices of the Edo State Government, in collaboration with the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), United Nations Children Education Fund (UNICEF) and other partners, has concluded plans to roll out the first round of the Routine Immunization Intensification exercise in the State, beginning from 6th through 11th January, 2025.
The Edo State Director of Immunization and Disease Control, Dr. Eseigbe Efeomon gave the information in his address, during a stakeholders’ meeting held at the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA), in Benin City. According to Dr. Eseigbe, the ‘Big Catchup’ vaccination exercise is focused on intensification, where children of the target ages between zero and 59 months will be given vaccinations that they missed during past routine immunization exercises.
Dr. Eseigbe clarified that the exercise was informed by year 2024 data domiciled with NPHCDA, which indicated that significant number of children of the target age group missed previous routine immunization exercises or were not immunized as a result of disruption occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, insurgency, amongst others.
He solicited stakeholders to join in the advocacy of influencing parents and caregivers in the State Government’s quest to safeguarding children in the State against preventable deadly diseases, especially in the hard-to-reach locations. He disclosed that Edo ranks among states with wide coverage of virtually all its local government areas (LGAs), as against some states with three or four LGAs mapped for coverage.
The Zonal Technical Officer of NPHCDA, Ighodaro Lawani Osawe, while urging stakeholders to use all platforms in their disposal to disseminate the information on the safety and necessity of vaccines, emphasized that stakeholders’ collaboration has proved to be a major contributor to the success of immunization exercises. He appreciated the traditional institutions, the religious groups, the civil society organisations, amongst others, urging them to amplify messages on the benefits of immunization.
The EDPHCDA Health Education Officer, Mrs. Irene Uabor, asserted that healthy adults in the society are as a result of same safe immunization they had in their childhood. She cautioned that there are incidences of the resurgence of some deadly vaccine-preventable diseases, which hitherto, were thought to have been eradicated, as a result of missed or incomplete vaccinations.
Uabor assured of the Agency’s preparedness to take the vaccinations to every eligible child across the State with the execution of trained Health workers. She counseled the public to refrain from rumors and disinformation spread by mongers, maintaining that the vaccines are safe, effective, and are given free of charge. She concluded that parents, and caregivers, should endeavour to grant access or present their children for vaccination alongside their vaccination cards; at home or at their nearest Primary Health Centre across the State.
Stakeholders in attendance include Local Health Education Officers, representatives from the Traditional councils, Religious heads, Education, Media, Unions, CSOs, and NGOs, amongst others.
